Crime & Punishment of Monday, 27 December 2004

Source: GNA

Woman granted 20 million cedis bail for fraudulent land sale

Tema, Dec. 27, GNA - A woman trader who fraudulently sold a plot of land at Ashaiman to a developer for 10 million cedis has been granted 20 million cedis bail by the Tema Circuit Court "A".

Diana Martey alias Fato Odae pleaded not guilty and will reappear on January 23, 2005.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Mary Assunta told the court presided over by Mr Charles Asiedu that, on June 16, 2004, the complainant, who was looking for a plot of land to buy contacted the accused, who promised had a half plot of land to sell for 10 million cedis.

She said the complainant quickly organised her-self and paid the money and the accused issued a receipt to cover the payment. She later prepared a site plan for the plot for the complainant.

Chief Inspector Assunta said on receipt of the site plan, the complainant started developing the land, but one day when he went to the site, he saw that someone was digging his foundation on the same plot. The complainant, therefore, went to the accused for a replacement of the plot, but she failed, but enquiries later revealed that, she has no plot of land at all.

A report was made to the Ashaiman police and when she was invited, she failed to report until she was traced to Asesewa in the Eastern Region, where she had gone seeking herbal treatment for breast cancer.